The Tahoe Interagency Bear Team has issued guidance for campers in the Lake Tahoe Basin to help maintain safety and prevent bear encounters. The region, known for its active black bear population, sees increased bear activity as bears search for food, particularly during hyperphagia in the fall.
"Anyone coming to the Tahoe area should educate themselves on bear behavior and general bear ecology," said Alexia Ronning, an environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). Ronning emphasized that bears have a strong sense of smell and a heightened desire for food at certain times of the year.
Ronning advises campers to adhere strictly to camp rules regarding bears and report any incidents to camp hosts or relevant authorities. She also recommends packing items such as bear spray, air horns, whistles, and pots and pans to deter bears from approaching campsites.
Bear-proof ice chests are essential for storing food securely. Campers should ensure their ice chests can be locked or latched without gaps. Other scented items like toothpaste and deodorant should also be stored in bear-resistant containers.
Bear encounters are not limited to campgrounds; they can occur in neighborhoods and business districts at any time. Properly securing bear boxes and dumpsters is crucial to preventing conflicts.
Visitors can contribute significantly by practicing these strategies and being vigilant as bears approach hyperphagia. Additional information on bear-safe camping is available through resources such as tahoebears.org and BearWise.org.
For more tips on safe camping in bear country, visit:
- Safe Camping in Bear Country: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dICg4q3TU8o
- Human-Wildlife Conflicts Webpage: https://wildlife.ca.gov/HWC
- Wildlife Incident Reporting: https://apps.wildlife.ca.gov/wir
- TahoeBears.org: https://www.tahoebears.org/
- BearWise.org: https://bearwise.org/